Thursday, April 14, 2016

Assalamualaikum warohmatullah. So today I wanna share with all of you what I had jotted down on my notebook during Speak Up! English Speaking Seminar(Shah Alam) on 27 December 2015 with Mr Aiman Azlan.

Aiman Azlan said that, there were 3W's which were important before we started our seminar. First, WANT. You wanted to be here, not because of your parents forced you to do so or because "why not we attend this seminar because it is Sunday and I have nothing to do?".

Second, WRITE. This is an important thing to do when you are attending a seminar because it is the way of remembering. Third, WHY; Why you want to be here?

There are 4 important skills in English language.

1) Writing

2) Reading

3) Speaking(main course)

4) Listening

The important skills are actually separated but connected to each other. For example, if we expert in writing, it doesn't mean that we also will expert in speaking. Besides, half of speech is we have to listen and if you have the right mind set, then you will be confident.

Aiman Azlan asked, "do you think that the reason you are not confident is because of your bad English? If you think so, please raise your hands". Certain of the audience raised their hands including me. Then, he said that English has nothing to do with confidence. You are the cause of your bad English. It is hurt to admit it but that is the truth.

The purpose of English language is to communicate. Don't lose sight. Besides, certain people are depressed because of their exam's result. Bear in your mind that exam is not life. Exam is just a way to test our knowledge.
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We have to be careful with this word:-

1) All

2) Never

3) Always

For example.

My friend is always there for me.

Ask yourself back. Really??? Your friend is not there when you are in toilet, is s/he? That means, s/he is not always there for you. (Maybe sometimes they have to accompany you while you are in toilet in urgent cases...)

So, please be careful before using that kind of words, okay?
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Stress is divided into two:-

1) Positive stress; Eustress. This stress causes you to react, not to be depressed.

2) Negative stress; Distress. You feel stressed when the danger is not there. The danger is only in your head. It is created by you; in your head.
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Training

a) You have to be aware of the voice. You should not follow your feeling all the time(autopilot). Sometimes, you have to reflect before doing something. Besides, you can create your own voice. Positive voice will battle with negative voice.

b) You have to adjust your voice to speak fluently in English. Test your voice by asking people.

c) You have to do some action to improve your English speaking.

"You have 2 wolves in your body. Which one will win? The one that you feed and you give more attention".

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2 ways to get confidence

1) External(easy way)

- You can get it from your friends, parents and school.

2) Internal(hard way)

- You can get your confidence from you, yourself.

If you just wanna choose the easy way to get your own confidence, ask yourself back. They cannot be there all the time if you need it. So, that means, by hook or by crook, you have to take the hard way too. You can get your confidence whenever you need it because you are always there for yourself through thick and thin.

Be patient, if you cannot get the A's(aware, adjustment, action), In Shaa Allah, you will be confident with your own two feet. People who are comfortable all the time will not grow. It takes time.

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To practice English in our daily life, we have to think like a baby in terms of language.

1. Baby (teacher)
-They listen and copy; the baby tries to make the sound same as the sound that the baby listened to.

2. Sources
-It could be; youtube, songs, movies and etc.

We need to practice our muscle with speaking.
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SLANG
ACCENT
DIALECT

They are just accessories. Don't be sad if you don't have it.

To get fluency in English speaking, Aiman Azlan suggested us to listen to English songs or watch movies, but, be careful with the words used. Choose wisely.

Question: How to overcome people who always criticize someone that speaks in English like; poyo, bajet and so on?

Answer by Aiman Azlan: We can change our reaction to the criticism. Don't give them what they want.

Question: How to attract people's attention like you did?

Answer by Aiman Azlan: We can't force people but we can encourage them. Be genuine, be patient and have passion. (I can't really remember about what Aiman Azlan said about personality, passive and audience but I wrote it. Just that single word.)
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Be better than who you were before. So, that's fair! It is a reasonable expectation.
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